Missionary Servants of the Poor. September 2022

Opus Christi
Salvatoris Mundi
Missionary Servants of the Poor
It is the Spirit who arouses and animates the
mission, impresses on it "genetic" connotations,
nuances and particular movements that make the
proclamation of the Gospel and the confession of the
Christian faith something different.
(Message of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Pontifical Mission Societies,
May 21, 2020, Solemnity of Ascension of the Lord.
www.msptm.com
N. 2022/03

Index
Printed with ecclesiastical approbation
Vicar General of Archdiocese of Cuzco.
Mission in the Andes Mountains of Peru
Br. Erick Domínguez Cardoso, mps (Mexican) ................................................... 3
Our children in the Saint Teresa of Jesus Home before, during, and after
Covid-19
MSP Sisters ............................................................................................................... 8
Chronicle
Missionary Servants Sisters of the Poor ............................................................. 12
How can I help the Poor? ..................................................................................... 18
If a missionary flame burns within you, don’t let it go out ........................... 20
The History of Evangelization in Peru (IV) ..................................................... 22
Evangelization in Cuba and the Catholic Church
Fr. Mathias Brand, msp (German) ...................................................................... 25
Chronicle
Missionary Priests and Brothers Servants of the Poor .................................... 31
Message from Msgr. Juan José Salaverry, Auxiliary Bishop of Lima ............. 35
Important Notice
Don’t ever tire of praying for priests, especially in these
times in which it seems that all the powers of evil have
descended on the earth, preying particularly upon the
sacred ministers of the Lord.
Pray that they remain faithful, that they be holy, that
they be, in short, nothing more (and nothing less) than
what they ought to be: Alter Christus.
Accompany the Priests and Deacons of the Missionary Servants
of the Poor with your prayers!
Visit our website: www.msptm.com
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This newsletter will always be free, some people ask to make a donation to
support our work, which is why we include our bank details.
2

Mission in the
Andes Mountains
of Peru
Br. Erick Domínguez Cardoso, msp (Mexican)
The Missionary Servants of the Poor have
as our charism the great blessing of being
available to carry out the commandment
that Christ gave His Church: Go,
therefore, and make disciples of all the
nations baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit (Mt. 28:19).
Within this general commandment, the
men’s branch of the Missionary Servants
of the Poor dedicates a good part of
these efforts to helping the parish priests
that have a difficult job of pastorally
attending to their large territories. After
so many years during which the number
of priests has fallen, the faith has notably
diminished among the people and the
pastoral labor required must be directed
to the root of the faith, to resuscitate a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ
which leads to a conversion of one’s life.
However, there still remain older people
who have a deep faith and have fulfilled
their responsibility of educating their
children and grandchildren in the faith.
These persons are the spiritual engine
of the communities we serve since they
attend Holy Mass and make sure the
people receive the missionaries with
trust and affection. The pastoral work,
therefore, is preaching Jesus Christ and
His redeeming mission to everyone and
strengthening the faith of those who
have maintained the faith under difficult
circumstances.
The Missionary Servants of the Poor
undertake this labor with the assurance
that we act in the name of the Church
and are sustained by her. It is greatly
satisfying to know that we are sent by
representatives with apostolic authority.
3

The second reason for the assurance with
which we launch out into these places
“beyond the asphalt” is the valuable
intercession of all the people of good
will who have decided to associate
themselves in different ways with our
work, especially offering their sufferings
and sacrifices and thereby complying
with the teaching of Saint Paul: Now I
rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and
in my flesh I complete what is lacking in
Christ’s affliction for the sake of his body,
that is, the church (Col. 1:24).
Currently our missionary work in the
villages of the Peruvian Andes is done
on Mondays and Tuesdays. We serve
about fifteen communities and once a
year we carry out week-long missions as
we are able.
The Missionary Servants of the Poor Priests and Brothers always visit the elderly when
they go to the villages in the mountains.
4

The villagers of the Andes of Peru ask the MSP Priests to bless their houses which makes them
feel like God is with them.
Our principal aim is to bring everyone
to an encounter with Christ in the
sacraments, especially in the Eucharist.
To do this we teach catechism, make
home visits, blessings, games, works and
special times of fraternal sharing.
We teach catechism especially in the
schools. The teachers are our first
collaborators in this work since they
turn over their classrooms to us. They
are the ones who encourage the families
to get the necessary documents to
receive the sacraments. In this way
they become our valuable helpers in
achieving our mission.
However, our catechetical work is not
limited to the schools but is also done in
the homes of the people willing to do this.
5

When we are in the homes we place special
emphasis on house blessings done by the
priests since in this way the strength of
the praying Church unfolds in a special
way and the Holy Spirit sanctifies the
hearts of the listeners and produces fruits
of a holy life (cf. Catechism of the Catholic
Church, nos. 1083 and 1670).
During our visits we invite people
to pray the Rosary which is usually
accompanied by meditations and songs
and participation in Holy Mass. At the
same time they are given a chance to go
to confession. Before Mass the children
learn the names of the vestments and
liturgical vessels. The songs in Quechua
are usually well received by the people
who also like to sing in Spanish.
Many of the faithful go to communion
and accompany their prayers with
thanksgiving. At the end of Holy Mass we
share some food like yogurt made from
the milk of the cows raised at the City of
Boys and bread baked in our bakery. On
solemnities we make hot chocolate. The
young people usually stay with use longer
to play volleyball or soccer and help us
with cleaning up.
This is the way we Missionary Servants
of the Poor walk with our communities
toward eternal life in the joyful hope that
springs from the sacraments and in close
collaboration with the Church which
continues the work of Christ, the only
Savior of mankind.
The Peruvian villagers of the mountains enjoy participating in the various religious activities
celebrated by the MSP Priests and Brothers.
6

MISSIONARY SISTERS SERVANTS
OF THE POOR
Have you asked yourself if God is calling you to
be a Missionary among the most needy?
(For more information, fill out the form on page 21)
7

THE MISSIONARY SISTERS SERVANTS
OF THE POOR
Our children of the
Saint Teresa of Jesus
Home before, during, and after
Covid-19
Missionary Sisters Servants of the Poor
This year of 2022 appears more hopeful
than the two previous years during
which, directly or indirectly, we were all
battered by not being able to do anything
about the pandemic, especially when the
virus attacked a family member or friend.
We experienced this in the Saint Teresa of
Jesus Home where we have our children
who suffer from congenital illnesses like
hydrocephaly, microcephaly, cerebral
palsy, and other conditions derived from
these.
Orphaned and
abandoned children
living at the Saint
Teresa of Jesus Home
run by the Missionary
Servants of the Poor
Sisters in Cuzco, Peru.
8

The children with
different illnesses in
the Saint Raphael
Room of the Saint
Teresa of Jesus Home
are cared for with
much dedication.
In addition, many of our orphaned
children arrive as newborns and from
their first days of life are fed formula so
their immunities are lower than a baby
fed on mother’s milk.
After reviewing the situation, the Sisters
decided to close the Home to quarantine
ourselves in order to prevent infection.
We were able to maintain this quarantine
until January of this year when the
authorities of the Ministry of Health
informed us that Covid-19 had become
less of a threat. But a little later we were
alerted that the Omicron variant had
appeared in Cuzco. Although we took
precautions, it wasn’t sufficient to prevent
it entering the Home.
The Sisters were the first to get symptoms
but the fact that they didn’t lose the sense
of smell and taste made us think it was
a simple cold. However, after three days
the symptoms had spread and the doctor
advised us to take a Covid test which
turned out positive.
Our first thought was for our children.
Thanks be to God, only the sick children
were in the Home. The healthy ones had
been sent on vacation to Urubamba
outside the city of Cuzco. We were
worried about infecting them even
though we always wore masks except
when eating. We asked the doctor for
advice and he told us to isolate all the
Sisters with symptoms of which there
were fourteen. Only two or three didn’t
have symptoms. That same day at 2:00
our children began to show symptoms
of fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. The
nightmare we feared was knocking at
our door, and with strength!
We were filled with anguish over the
decline of our children. We called the
Sisters at our different houses and they
came to take care of the children. The
Sisters came knowing that the children
could infect them but this didn’t matter.
They knew that, despite the danger, their
duty was the help the children sick with
Covid-19.
9

It was January 10 and at 6:00 pm all the
Sisters usually in charge of the Home left
the care of our children to our Sisters who
had arrived from different houses to help.
Among the Sisters, the virus presented
as a cold accompanied by fever and
headache but the greatest suffering
was in the heart, worrying about the
children. That night, despite being sick,
we doubled our prayer time interceding
for our children that the Lord give their
little bodies, already so tried, the strength
to overcome the virus and for the Sisters
that were taking care of them so that they
not be infected, at least until we were well
enough to take over the care.
The Sister in charge gave us the consoling
news, “Despite having fevers, vomiting,
diarrhea and no appetite, the children
are holding their own. No one is getting
complications. They are all remaining
stable.” This news encouraged us and
inspired heartfelt thanksgiving that our
little ones were fighting this battle with
the strength that only God can give.
While we fourteen Sisters were in
quarantine, we had more time for prayer
and work in common and offering to God
what each of us suffered by being sick.
After ten days in isolation, our Sisters
who were with the children morning and
night began to get sick. Relief for them
was necessary but unplanned but God
had a plan. Some more Sisters came to
relieve those who had to leave.
When we returned to the care of our
children, some were through the critical
stage like the Sisters, others were sick and
the rest had no symptoms.
The MSP Sisters
surrender
themselves
completely to the
sick children at
the Saint Teresa of
Jesus Home with
much love and
attention.
10

The children who were no longer
contagious (Felipe, Nayomi Ana, Aldar,
Javier, Guadalupe, Luz Merli) had lost
weight, were haggard and tired put they
were smiling and their smiles reflected
trust, a trust that couldn’t be ruffled by
the storm. I think that comparing them
with soldiers who have returned home
after a war is a good one. These children
really fought because they knew that
if they gave in we would also give in.
We remember this time with tears of
gratitude to God for being so good to us.
Our children are the best demonstration
of how close God is to us.
We are also exceedingly grateful to the
doctors and nurses who did everything
possible to help us. The doctors who
know our children, when they found
out that we had been infected, hastened
to put themselves at our disposal and
checked in to see how everyone was
doing. Their accompanying us relieved
us as did the calls from those who wanted
to encourage us and assure us of their
prayers.
We experienced in a palpable way
the Communion of Saints during this
pandemic. We pray that they remain in
this communion to one day see the fruits
in the Lord Jesus.
Now that the children are stable, we have
returned to normal life. Our girls have
returned to school and little by little the
Sisters are taking up their activities with
the people in the villages, catechesis in
the oratories, and helping the needy. We
hope to reopen the dining room soon for
the girls.
God bless you all.
During the
pandemic, the
small children that
entered the Saint
Teresa of Jesus
Home received
the Sacrament of
Baptism.
11

CHRONICLE
MISSION OF THE SISTERS AT THE MOTHER HOUSE
After a long suspension in the apostolates
done from the Mother House, the
Missionary Servants Sisters of the
Poor are able to take up their different
apostolates again.
Laura Vicuña Oratory: In the oratory
the Sisters teach catechism, pray the
rosary, and teach various games and
activities in addition to knitting and
drawing workshops. The day ends with a
substantial snack. Every meeting we see
how God works in these girls who feel
happier and loved by Him.
Extraordinary Mission: After a long
pause due to the pandemic, the Sisters
have taken up again the missions in
the mountains to 23 villages in the
Departments of Cuzco, Apurimac, and
Puno. In some of the villages we have
noticed a cooling of the Faith because
during our absence the members of some
other church or sect took advantage of the
situation to convince the people to come
to their meetings. Instead, thanks be to
God, the villages with which we were
able to maintain contact have remained
faithful to the Catholic Faith.
After almost two years of pandemic, the Missionary Servants of the Poor Sisters have
opened the oratory to more than thirty girls in Cuzco, Peru.
12

But we were even happier to learn that
the catechists themselves made an
effort so that the Faith wouldn’t fade by
organizing small meetings in the Church
to pray the Holy Rosary, read the Gospel
of the day and explain it. The issue we are
addressing in the missions is the defense
of our faith. Our greatest desire as Sisters
is that we may be good instruments in
the hands of the Lord so that He Himself
may work through us in the hearts of
everyone we meet.
Saint Joseph del Rio Mission to Boys:
The Sisters started this new mission
of Saturday afternoons for boys and
teenagers around Tikapata. The Sisters
visit people in their homes and invite
them to pray the rosary, to come to
catechism classes to prepare for the
sacraments, to Bible study workshops,
and crafts (like painting, for example),
as well as playing games and other
activities. God willing, the number of
boys attending will increase.
The MSP Sisters have begun missions again in different villages in
the mountains of Peru.
Saint Mary Queen of Peace Soup
Kitchen for Girls: By the grace of God,
the Sisters were also able to take up our
activities with the girls again. The work
with them consists in helping them
with homework, preparing them for the
sacraments, and teaching them work
skills such as baking, sewing, drawing,
and painting.
13

MISSION OF THE SISTERS IN PUNACANCHA
• The Sisters continue taking care of
children at the Divine Mercy Aid
Center and with visiting families
and the elderly in the villages of
Punacancha, Ccochapata, Araycalla,
and Kircas.
• After two years of virtual classes, the
Sisters are teaching in-person religion
classes at schools in Punacancha and
Ccochapata. Unfortunately, after the
pandemic we can see that the students
are having trouble with academics.
• With the help and permission of the
parish priest, the Sisters prepared some
children to receive Jesus into their
hearts through First Holy Communion.
Also, by the grace of God, a wedding
took place between a coupe after
a long process of conversion from
Protestantism to the Catholic Church.
• We began the preparation for the
sacraments of initiation in the
community of Ccochapata. We
give thanks to the Lord for these
catechumens and ask the Holy Spirit
to continue helping them to grow in
their desire to join the Church.
The MSP Sisters in the village of Punacancha have begun their activities again with children
from different villages that they help in Cuzco, Peru.
14

MISSION OF THE SISTERS IN CUSIBAMBA
In the villages of Huayllay, Corca, and
Totora, the Missionary Servants of the
Poor Sisters continue with the following
apostolates:
Blessed Imelda Student Residence:
Fifteen girls entered this year. We started
in-person classes at the school where
the girls have the support of the Sisters
and a teacher. Also, the Sisters teach
religion classes at a primary school in
Cusibamba and Totora.
Guardian Angels Center: The Sisters
help 30 children and teenagers there.
Every day they are given lunch and help
with homework.
Girls of the Blessed Imelda Student Residence
in Cusibamba, Cuzco, Peru.
MISSION OF THE SISTERS IN RUMICHACA
• Thanks be to God, the MSP
Sisters were able to begin again
in-person catechism in the
Saint Dominic Savio and Saint
Philomena oratories. Once a
month catechism is also taught
to the parents. For many of
them it is a new experience
when they discover that they
are beloved children of God.
• We also had the joy of doing
a Eucharistic Day with the
children of our oratories and
a spiritual retreat with the
parents and teenagers who
showed much interest.
15

MISSION OF THE SISTERS IN ILO, MOQUEGUA
Saint Rose of Lima Mission: With the
blessing of God, the Sisters continue this
mission where up to now 40 candidates
for Baptism, First Holy Communion,
and Confirmation are being prepared.
A small group of children 5-7 years old
are being formed to be spreaders of the
Gospel in their homes.
Saint Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen:
We help forty families here by giving
out 110 meals daily which are prepared
with the help of the families themselves.
Before sharing the meals, the Sisters say
a prayer , read the Gospel for the day,
and finally, bless the food.
On Saturday, the Sisters have opened
the oratory again for the children of
Alto Chiribaya to wean from their
dependence on social media and teach
them about God with prayer, catechesis,
videos and games. We have managed to
get many to participate. Also, the Sisters
have invited the parents to come to Bible
classes and, thanks be to God, we have
gotten a good response of people who
come faithfully.
Guadalupe Mission: Here the Sisters
have started a Bible study for children
who have received their sacraments
of initiation. In this way, they seek to
continue the Christian formation of the
children that will bring them to a serious
commitment to their faith.
MSP Sisters in
Ilo, Moquegua,
Peru taking up
their catechetical
activities again
with the girls of the
parish.
16

MISSION OF THE SISTERS IN GUADALAJARA
The Missionary Servants of the Poor
Sisters help out at the Our Lady of
Guadalupe parish giving talks for
15-year-old girls, bringing the Eucharist
to the sick and elderly, visiting families,
and helping with the spiritual formation
of the girls of the Mater Dei School.
They thank God because every day their
lives are touched by different situations
that strengthen and help them to see
the great value of suffering since this is
something that many people don’t want
to face.
In Valle de los Molinos, the Sisters visit
the home of José Guadalupe and Celia
who have been married 42 years. Thirty
years ago, José Guadalupe became sick
with Parkinson’s disease and little by
little became worse. He underwent
two surgeries hoping to get better but
gradually he lost his ability to speak and
then his ability to move and finally to
even open his eyes. In the beginning,
it was hard for Celia to accept her
husband’s illness but what kept her
going were her marriage vows which she
pronounced the day of their wedding. “I
promise to be faithful in good times and
in bad, in sickness and in health, and
to love you and respect you all the days
of my life.” Spiritually, she clings more
tightly to the Lord and the Virgin Mary
and understands better the value of
suffering. Economically, they get by with
the sewing that Celia does and with the
support that different people give them.
The MSP Sisters in Guadalajara, Mexico
continue their mission of visiting the sick
and bringing them the Word of God.
17

How Can I Help the Poor?
Offering your sacrifices and prayers, together with your faithfulness
to the Gospel and the Pope, so that each Missionary Servant of the
Poor may be the living presence of Jesus among the poor.
Echoing the cry of the poor by distributing to your friends and family
this newsletter and all of our material (which you may request for
free) as well as by organizing meetings at which one of missionaries
may teach people about our mission.
Sending us Mass intentions
By feeding one of the students of our school for a year = $350
By paying for the annual educational expenses for one of our
children = $850
By remembering the Missionary Servants of the Poor in your will.
For those who wish to send us donations or a bank transfer
(monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, annual)
Our bank details in the UK: Bank name: Co-operative Bank
Account name: Missionary Servants of the Poor TW
Sort Code: 08 92 99 Account No: 65441594
(Registered UK Charity number: 1134707)
With your help, one more child
will be fed in our centres in Cuzco, Peru.
18

Thanks to
your help,one
more child
can befed in
our houses of
Cusco, Perú
Thank you for all that you do
19

If a missionary flame burns within you, don’t let it
go out. You are called to feed it!
Our missionary communities of Priests and
Brothers, Contemplatives, young laymen, Sisters,
and married couples will help you on this journey.
*If you are a young person wishing to explore a
vocation for at least a year, living in mission territory
and sharing the community life of the Missionary
Servants of the Poor and disposed to discern what
mission God is calling you to in the Church…the
poor await you.
*If you feel called to follow a path of consecration,
transforming your whole life into service to the
poorest as a missionary brother or sister…the poor
await you.
*If you are a married couple who, with your
children, have decided to open your family to the
poor as a “domestic missionary church”…the poor
await you.
*If you are a layperson or religious who wants to
make an official public commitment of personal
conversion and of prayer to the Institute of the
Missionary Servants of the Poor in a commitment
ceremony as an oblate…contact us.
*If you would like to personally help in your
diocese or form a Support Group of the Missionary
Servants of the Poor with the aim of deepening
and spreading our charism, fostering recollection,
continuous conversion, spiritual freedom of each
and every one of its members, and in this way go
to others with enthusiasm and generosity, full of the
love of God…contact us.
*If you want to offer your prayers and sufferings for the Missionary Servants of the Poor but without a
binding commitment…contact us.
Youth seeking a vocation
Missionary Brother
Missionary Sister
Married Missionary
Oblate
Associate/Support Group
Offerer
Name
Street
City
Postal Code
Telephone
Age
Email
State
Country
Occupation
Level of Education
Seminarians, please mail
your request to:
House of Priestly Formation
Holy Mary Mother of the Poor
Carretera Mazarambroz S/N
45110 Ajofrín (Toledo)
Spain
casaformacionajofrin@gmail.com
All others, please send this form to the
following address:
Missionary and Servants of the Poor
10 Chicheley Gardens
Harrow HA3 6QH
United Kingdom
Tel: 0044 (0)7511136055
msptw.uk@gmail.com
20

Lay people
Most important help for missionaries
I,
during all of
, commit myself to remain united to you in order to give
thanks to God for this new charism of the Church given to the Missionary Servants
of the Poor.
My participation will be as follows:
Form of
offering
Daily
Frequency
Weekly Fortnightly Monthly Other
Holy Mass
Eucharistic
Adoration
Holy Rosary
Address
City State Postal code
Country
Date
Every man and woman is a
mission, and this is the reason
why we are on earth.
Message of Pope Francis for the World Day of Missions, 2018
Vatican, May 20, 2018, Pentecost
This Spiritual Offering may be sent to our address in Cuzco, Peru. There it will be
placed at the feet of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the chapel "Holy Mary Mother of the
Poor", in the City of the Boys (Andahuaylillas, Cuzco - Peru).
21

HISTORY OF THE EVANGELIZATION
OF PERU (IV)
In 1502 the Catholic Kings, alarmed
by the disorder and abuses, sent
Fray Nicolás de Avando y Cáceres to
Hispaniola as the new governor with
twelve Franciscans and 2,500 men of all
different professions and ranks. Among
them was 24-year-old Francisco Pizarro
and 17-year-old Bartolomé de las Casas
accompanying his father. On February
13, 1502 the powerful fleet of thirty
ships left Cadiz and arrived on April
15 of the same year at the port of Santo
Domingo on the island of Hispaniola.
In the Instructions of Granada (1501),
the Spanish rulers had given Ovando
very clear rules. They wanted to have
free vassals in the Indies, as free and
well treated as in Spain.
Fr. Paolo Giandinoto, msp (Italian)
First of all, you will procure with great
diligence the things of the service of
God... Because We wish that the Indians
convert to our holy Catholic Faith, and
their souls be saved... You will take great
care to ensure, without forcing them, that
the religious who are there inform them
and admonish them with much love...
In addition: You will see to it that the
Indians are well treated and can travel
safely throughout the land, and no one
forces them, or steals from them, or does
them any other harm or damage. If the
caciques know of any abuse, let them
inform you, so you may punish it. The
tributes for the King must be agreed
upon with them, so that they know that
no injustice is done to them. Finally, if
the royal officials do something bad, you
must take away their office, and punish
them justly...
22

The Missionary
Priests Servants of
the Poor continue
evangelizing in all the
villages of the Andes
of Cuzco, Peru.
Some of the more blatant abuses from
the beginning were remedied, but things
were still very bad. Of the 100,000 or
200,000 Indians, or perhaps a million, on
Hispaniola, in 1517 only about 10,000
remained. In the following years, although
not in such serious proportions, a similar
phenomenon took place in other regions
of the Indies. How to explain this? The
Spaniards cannot simply be accused of
murdering and exploiting the Indians.
There had to be, in addition to wars and
mistreatment, another cause... And there
was.
It has long been known that the main cause
of this frightening demographic decline
was due to plagues, to the total vulnerability
of the Indians to pathogens unknown
there. Much more than the atrocities
of the conquerors, which have often
been unfairly exaggerated, the immune
deficiencies of that indigenous population
against European diseases, even the most
benign ones such as the common cold and
the flu, were the reason that, in addition to
being already undernourished and weak,
they would disappear en masse before the
bacterial and viral onslaught in successive
deadly epidemics.
The Europeans, for their part, also suffered
massively from the attack of tropical
diseases, against which they were not
immunized. They also suffered from
local undernourishment. For example,
of the 2,500 Spaniards who arrived in the
Antilles in 1502 with Ovando's fleet, none
remained unscathed. More than 1,000
died and the rest fell ill due to privations
and hunger.
(To be continued)
23

ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Imitation of Christ:
New translation of the spiritual rule of the
Missionary Servants of the Poor. (available
only in Spanish and Italian)
On Mission with God in the Andes:
This book presents Father Giovanni Salerno’s
anecdotes and personal reflections on his
missionary experience in the Andes.
Missionary Couples:
This booklet tells about the Fraternity of
Missionary Couples of our movement, who
serve the poor as entire families.
Missionary Servants of the Poor:
Catholic missionaries serving the poorest of the
poor. A 55minute DVD presenting the charisms
of the Movement and its different communities.
The Confessions of St.Augustine:
Dear young people, Saint Augustine tells you
frankly about his life so that you can discover
with him how beautiful the gift of your life is.
(available only in Spanish and Italian)
TheWay of the Cross for Young People and
Contemplatives:
Fr Giovanni Salerno meditates on the sorrowful
Path looking on the Indios for whom he gave-up
his life.
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Email: msptw.uk@gmail.com
24

MISSIONARY SERVANTS
OF THE POOR
Evangelization
in Cuba and
the Catholic
Church
Fr. Mathias Brand, msp (German)
The mission of the Catholic Church in
Cuba began in the 16th century with the
Spanish Conquest. The Church in Cuba
had a very important role for centuries
and whose signs are seen even today in
the many Christian buildings and names
found all over the country.
With Castro’s revolution more than 60
years ago, there was a drastic change.
The political influence of the Catholic
Church was substantially weakened.
Many priests and religious left the island
and practicing Catholics were not viewed
well by society.
Religious practice moved a little from
the churches to private homes called
"mission houses" in which the faithful
met to pray and live their faith in small
communities. Even today there are more
than 2,000 houses of this type in Cuba.
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Missionary Servants of the Poor Priests (in gray cassocks) with other missionaries
in Cienfuegos, Cuba
Diplomatic relations between Cuba and
the Vatican did not improve significantly
until the publication of the book "Fidel
and Religion: Conversations with Frei
Betto" (Havana, Publications Office of
the Council of State, 1985, 379 p.) and
especially until Fidel Castro's visit to the
Vatican on November 19, 1996 and Saint
John Paul II's visit to Cuba on January
21-25, 1998. Since then a new phase of
relations began. The successive visits of
Benedict XVI on March 26-28, 2012 and
Pope Francis on September 19-22, 2015
helped on this path of rapprochement.
The Cuban population is very
communitarian and religious, despite the
materialistic atheism that dominates the
political and social structure in which
they live. Even in Cuban adolescents and
young people there is deep questioning
about God and the afterlife, realities
about which few in Europe, at least
notably, question. This openness to
God in Cubans allows us to carry out
evangelization with them and to talk to
them about the message of Jesus.
I would like to say that Cubans living
on the island have a deep thirst for the
26

Fr. Sebastian, msp, with people in Cienfuegos, Cuba
spiritual, despite the fact that the State's
teachings do not point in that direction.
Since Cuba is a secular state, the Catholic
Church has no part in education in
schools. The thirst for God is noticeably
manifested in the many requests for the
sacraments, especially baptism. Despite
the fact that many parents have not
received baptism, for them it is not only a
wish, but even a duty, that their children
receive this gift from God, so important
for the life they are beginning to face.
But also in Cuba, as in the rest of the
world, the decrease in attachment to even
purely human values is clearly noticeable.
Because the supernatural is built on the
natural, the mission of the Church has an
important role to play in the formation
of the people. We, through the different
programs of Caritas (school review,
music groups, distribution of medicines
and breakfasts for the needy, laundry),
support the human development of
young people and the elderly.
The Church must be built up not only
spiritually, but also materially. The lack
of construction materials and financial
resources, in addition to the extremely
27

complicated obtaining of state permits,
hinders progress in this field, where
each community needs a decent and
welcoming meeting place, especially
for the celebration of the sacraments.
Currently, food shortages and currency
devaluation are a deep concern for the
Church as well. In Cuba, despite the
situation of scarcity in which many find
themselves, good humor and hope reign
remarkably.
Finding daily bread, not only spiritually
in the daily Eucharist, but also materially
for the table of each home, has been a
very important task in the work of many
saints in their respective times, such as
Saint Augustine of Hippo before the
invasion of the Vandals or Saint Vincent
de Paul before the multitude of needy,
whose situation moved him and led him
to found a religious congregation to
assist them. It must be a very important
task also for the Church today.
We ask the Virgin of Charity of Cobre,
Mother of all Cubans, to extend her
mantle over the people who cry out to
her in their needs.
Fr. Mathias, msp, crossing a river to get to a town in the Diocese of Cienfuegos, Cuba
28

S.O.S. to young people
It is Jesus who calls you to the mission and He is
there at your side. It is Jesus Himself that works in
your heart, changes your view, and makes you look
at life with new eyes, not with the eyes of a tourist.
Address of the Holy Father to the Young People of the Diocesan Mission
Shrine of Our Lady of the Guard, Genoa, Italy
Saturday, May 27, 2017
With the Missionary Servants of the Poor,
you can achieve this ideal – through a life of deep prayer
and generous self-giving to so many brothers
who suffer all types of marginalisation.
29

In Praise of Contemplatives
Would you like to join our Contemplative
Servants of the Poor who dedicate most
of their day to prayer and Eucharistic
adoration, and who also dedicate numerous
hours to manual Labour in order to help
the poor?
You have chosen, or more exactly, Christ
has chosen you, to live His Easter Mystery
with Him in time and space. May all that
you are, everything you do each day, be it the
Office recited or sung, the celebration of the
Eucharist, the work done in your cell or in
community, respect for the cloister and silence,
the voluntary or imposed mortification of
the rule, be taken on, sanctified, and used by
Christ for the world’s redemption.
Like Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, you too can offer your
contemplative life to God to benefit the neediest.
I, ,
from the Monastery of:
Address:
City:
Country:
commit myself to live the obedience and poverty of my surrender to God in my
monastery for the Missionary Servants of the Poor, so that the Kingdom of God may
come to the poorest.
Date
Signature
30

CHRONICLE
The City of Boys
Dear Friends,
Laudetur Jesus Christus.
Of the many things occurring right
now, the most important is the starting
again of in-person classes at the Saints
Francisco and Jacinta Marto School.
The boys were happy to return after two
difficult years of pandemic.
Throughout the school year we have
lived through the different rounds of
evaluations and then the long-awaited
vacation. What are our activities during
the holidays? About forty boys, together
with the Saint Michael boy scout
troop, carry out a camp from Monday
to Friday with training activities that
include participation in daily Mass,
different games and short excursions.
Some boys from our Saint Tarcisius
Home participate in this camp, while the
others, together with their leaders, move
to a small house in the San Jerónimo
neighborhood of Cuzco to spend some
time of greater rest there.
Fr. Luis María, msp, guiding the boys of the oratory at the City of Boys in Andahuaylillas, Peru.
31

At the end of June, four Brothers from
our House of Formation in Ajofrín,
Toledo and Father Paolo, msp, came
to support us. They arrived after
finishing the academic year there at
the Metropolitan Seminary of the
Archdiocese of Toledo. Basically, they
help at the Saint Tarcisius Home and
the weekly missions in the villages of
the high Andean Cordillera. It was
a great joy for us to see our Brothers
again who are preparing to be
Missionary Servants of the Poor Priests.
Since the beginning of this year, we
have resumed the weekly missions in
the towns of the high Andes Mountains.
For this we have several teams normally
composed of a Priest and a Brother who
go to various towns between Monday
and Tuesday. We arrive on Monday
morning and do catechism in the
elementary schools, from preschool to
sixth grade. In the afternoon we visit
with the people of the town and in
the evening we have the celebration of
the Holy Mass. The next day we go to
another town for catechism and for Holy
Mass in the schools.
The boys and
parents joyfully
participate in the
religious celebration
directed by the
Missionary Servants
of the Poor Priests
and Brothers in
Cuzco, Peru.
32

In all the Missionary Servants of the Poor Centers, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima
with processions, songs, the Holy Rosary, and much joy. Cuzco, Peru.
Every year our Saint Tarcisius Home
celebrates its feast on August 14.
Normally it would be the 15, but, as it
coincides with the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary, it is celebrated the day
before. This year, in particular, it has
been celebrated with great devotion with
the solemn Holy Mass. On this day the
children of the Home do not go to class
and the Brothers and Priests organize
different games to entertain them.
Similarly, our Saints Francisco and
Jacinta Marto School has celebrated its
25 years of existence. The celebration was
on May 13 with the solemn Holy Mass
presided over by Fr. Agustín, director of
the school, and followed by a procession
with the statue of the Virgin Mary. After
that, the day continued with team games
and reminders of the past 25 years.
We thank all those who have made the
Francisco and Jacinta Marto School
possible and ask in particular for your
prayers that it continue to grow.
33

Holy Mary Mother of the Poor House of Formation
(Ajofrin, Toledo, Spain)
You are not preparing for a career to
become officials in a company or office.
You are becoming shepherds in the
image of Jesus the Good Shepherd,
in order to be like him and to act
in His person amid his flock, to
feed his sheep.
Address of Pope Francis to the
Community of the Pontifical
Leonine College in Anagni
Clementine Hall, Monday, April 14, 2014
Why
not?
"Here I am, Lord,
I come to do
your will" (Psalm 39)
If you want to be a
Missionary,
here there is a place
for you!
34

STATEMENT FROM MSGR. JUAN JOSÉ SALAVERRY,
AUXILIARY BISHOP OF LIMA AND PONTIFICAL COMMISSIONER
FOR THE MISSIONARY SERVANTS OF THE POOR
On May 31, 2022, the liturgical Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, Msgr. Juan
José has made public the appointments of the new heads of the women’s and men’s
branches of the Missionary Servants of the Poor.
For the MSP women's branch, Sr. Sandra Goyzueta Umeres is the new Superior and
for the MSP men's branch Fr. Walter Corsini is the new Superior as well as Vicar
General of all three MSP branches (men’s, women's, and lay branches).
“With heartfelt thanks for the humble service rendered by the outgoing Superiors,
Sr. Betzabé Huaman Córdova of the women's branch and Fr. Álvaro de María
Gómez Fernández of the men's branch and as Vicar General of the three branches,
we commend to your prayers those who will assume these positions in the coming
months. May the Holy Spirit fill them with His graces so that they fulfill their duties
with fidelity and responsibility, as good Servants, and see in their new mission the
fulfillment of the will of God in an authentic and valuable service to their brothers
and sisters."
+ Msgr. Juan José Salaverry Villareal, OP
Pontifical Commissioner for the Missionary Servants of the Poor
35

OPUS CHRISTI SALVATORIS MUNDI
MISSIONARY SERVANTS OF THE POOR
What is meant by this, is different missionary realities
(Priests and consecrated brothers, religious (male and
female), missionary families, priests and brothers especially
dedicated to the life of prayer and contemplation, associates,
oblates, collaborators, support groups) who share the same
charism and work under the same founder.
OPUS CHRISTI SALVATORIS MUNDI
Formed by those members of the Missionary
Servants of the Poor, who are called to follow a
more profound way of consecration, with the
characteristics of community life and the profession of
the Evangelical Counsels according to their condition.
To be canonically recognized as two religious institutes:
one for the male branch of the Priests and Brothers,
and one for the female branch of the Sisters.
SUPPORT GROUPS OF THE MOVEMENT
They aim to deepen and spread our charism,
working for the conversion of each and every one of our
members, through the organisation of periodic gatherings.
These members are considered ASSOCIATES.
OBLATES
The sick, old and imprisoned, who offer their
sufferings for the Poor, and for those who have welcomed
and endorsed the charism of the Missionary Servants
of the Poor, in their lives.
Perú
Misioneros Siervos de los Pobres
PO Box 907 Cuzco
Tel: +51 984 032 491
Email: msptm.cuzco@gmail.com
www.msptm.com
United Kingdom
Missionary Servants of the Poor
10 Chicheley Gardens
Harrow HA3 6QH United Kingdom
Tel: 0044 (0)7511136055
Email: msptw.uk@gmail.com
United States
Friends of the Missionary Servants of the Poor TW
5800 W. Monastery Rd. Hulbert, OK 74441
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